Tom Lynch was here! If you missed this amazing weekend don’t stress; he is going to come back next year. You will love it and learn a lot of useful techniques.

We learned so much from Tom waves, reflections, clouds, skies, etc!!- He is a superb teacher and a wonderful watercolorist… and a really nice person!

Here are some of his tips

Using Watercolor Canvas- wet the entire canvas before beginning- let it dry or use a hair dryer & then paint. Don’t like a section? You can wipe it off with a damp towel & repaint - up to 30 times!! It also stays wet longer – you can take your time and have the freedom to play a bit longer, and - NO blossoms or blooms.

Tom’s Favorite Brushes- Stratford & York   (on sale at 50% off list while supplies last)

¾ “ Balmoral Sable Flat – long handle, bigger belly, long length. This is the main brush Tom uses all the time.

He uses the belly to do dry brush, the corner or edge for sharp lines. the brush holds a lot of paint for washes and general painting. It can even be smashed apart for a fan effect. That one brush should have so much!

#4 Balmoral Sable Rigger - for lines as well as his signature in watercolor.

#16 Round Rydal Gold – a nice large round that keeps its point- made from 5 different synthetic hairs.

Holbein Watercolors – more pigment, brighter color, darks more colorful, paint will rewet & lift easier, dry color in palette will re-moist easier and not be granular- it does not contain oxgall, an additive that makes a hard surface when paint is dry.. “If you like color you will love Holbein”

Strathmore Gemini Watercolor paper – tight weave so paint does not sink in far or fast;color looks brighter, darks are stronger; easy to lift off dry color- (wet with a cloth( not paper)  towel , blot till dry & then scrub with a dry towel) has internal sizing so you can repaint after you lift. (22X30 sheets 140# & 300#)

Tom’s Pearls of Wisdom: 

“Entertain the viewer with a variety of height, width, length, angle and space between. Use good design and color. Repetition is the enemy of art!”

Don’t use salt if you want your art to be in a gallery- salt takes away the neutral pH of your work.

Try using lace or doilies to create an interesting pattern easily in your work- use a spray bottle with diluted Holbein watercolor.

Skies- Paint skies last to match your painting- make the sky a color that will make your focal point glow.

Use a value change in the sky- side to side, or top to bottom, depending on how much of your painting is sky. Your focal point will determine where the value change is- a bright focal point needs a darker sky to make it pop.

Force yourself to use a variety of colors!

What color is the sky as it approaches the ground? Whatever color is next to the sky. Add a bit of that color.

Clouds- Blot with a Kleenex loosely wadded- no lotion in the Kleenex!! Vary the sizes & shapes.

There was so much information in the weekend it is impossible to even get close to what was learned!

Plan to be there next year.